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Travel-booking service Orbitz had released an update to their popular iOS app, bringing full iPad optimization to Apple's tablet for the first time. The new version of the app now runs at the iPad's native screen resolution and taps into the device's more powerful processor to provide faster search results to consumers. The app also presents users with special mobile-only discounts that aren't available through the company's traditional web portal.
Much like the former iPhone-only version, the new app lets users find and book discounted flights, hotel rooms and rental cars. The search results are then displayed on the larger iPad screen allowing travelers to compare the details of different flight options or view hotels in both a list and map view. These features help make the search process much easier and simply aren't possible on the smaller screen of a smartphone.
Streamlined searching of travel options isn't the only thing the app brings to the table. It also allows travelers to save their itineraries for offline viewing and even adds important dates and times to the iPad's built-in calendar. Additionally, it will provide updated information on flight delays or gate changes and grants access to exclusive deals for hotel rooms, often at as much as 50 percent off the normal price.
In celebration of the release of the new iPad app, Orbitz is giving away a trip for two to Chicago. The contest winner will receive first-class, round-trip airfare and two nights stay at the swanky Peninsula Chicago hotel. To enter to win, just visit the Orbitz Facebook page.
And to download the new iPad version of the app hit the App Store.
[Photo Credit: Orbitz]

subset: commoncrawl


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New Mexico hit by largest forest fire in history
Sophisticated software systems help nearly 1,200 personnel battle the 390-square-mile blaze.
The 2012 forest fire season has started with a vengeance, as firefighters battle the largest forest fire ever to hit New Mexico -- a lightening-caused conflagration that has churned through 390 square miles in the Gila National Forest since igniting May 16.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack warned last month that the Southwest faces the risk of extreme wildfires this year because of a mild winter and low precipitation levels. Their departments have a combined firefighting budget of $2.9 billion this year and masses of personnel and equipment are on standby.
Federal wildfire managers have deployed 1,191 personnel from multiple federal, state and local agencies to battle the blaze, called the Whitewater Baldy Fire after a location near the fire, backed up by 63 fire engines, 30 water tenders, 10 water bucket-carrying helicopters and seven bulldozers to cut fire lines. The fire is located in mostly rural areas just east of the Arizona border, near the town of Mogollon, N.M., and has created a smoke pall that blankets southeast Arizona north to Socorro, N.M., 80 miles south of Albuquerque.
Deployment of these personnel and assets on the Whitewater Baldy Fire is managed through sophisticated weather prediction and fire modeling systems that run on almost 100 computers installed at the fire incident command post in Reserve, N.M., 100 miles west of Socorro, Brie Magee, a fire spokeswoman who works for Forest Service, told Nextgov.
These systems include multiple weather forecasting systems, which are essential to determining conditions such as wind and humidity, which can spread or impede the fire The blaze was 18 percent contained as of Monday, Magee said.
The weather software includes a system called Wind Ninja , which computes varying wind speeds for wildland fires, and FX-NET , the primary weather workstation for wild land fire managers that displays data from the National Weather Service's Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System .
Fire analysts at the command post also use fire behavior software tools to model the blaze, Magee said. Behave Plus , for instance, can help predict the spread and direction of a fire based on, among other things, the type of trees or other fuel for the blaze. FARSITE , a simulation program, can help predict fire growth depending on whether the fire is on the surface or on tree crowns, where a blaze can quickly spread.
Magee said while firefighters cannot control the weather, wind, topography or fuels they confront, these tools give them a leg up on a daily basis on managing the blaze.
The systems and computers at the incident command post are supported by terrestrial connections to remote systems with both terrestrial and satellite links that transmit data at rates of 3 megabytes per second and 4 megabytes per second, respectively, Magee said.
Most of the firefighters on the Whitewater Baldy fire line -- about 1,000 -- are equipped with handheld radios for coordination and to ensure their safety, Magee said.
While firefighters have made substantial progress since last week -- when the Whitewater Baldy Fire was not contained at all -- Magee said the fire could be smoldering well into July, when hoped for rains should finally smother it.
NEXT STORY: Catching Up on Telework


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Those of you who tuned in to our live coverage yesterday know all about the new details surrounding Sony's next-generation handheld gaming console, but for those unfortunate souls who missed it, here are the highlights: Sony announced on Monday that its next PSP — known until now as the Sony Next-Generation Portable, or Sony NGP — has been dubbed "PlayStation Vita." In terms of pricing, the PS Vita will start at $249 for a Wi-Fi model, and a 3G-enabled version will be available as well for $299. Unfortunate though it may be, we still don't have a firm release date for the sleek new Vita, but it will definitely be out in time to soak up all those holiday bonuses. Hit the break for Sony's full press release.
Sony Computer Entertainment Announces "PlayStation®Vita" as the Official Name for Next Generation Portable Entertainment System
Wi-Fi Model: 24,980 Yen (including tax), $249 and euro 249
3G/Wi-Fi Model: 29,980 Yen (including tax), $299 and euro 299Realizes Unparalleled Interactive Network Entertainment
TOKYO, June 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE)today announced PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) (PCH-1000 series) as the official platform name for the next generation portable entertainment system (codename: NGP). Wi-Fi model will be available for 24,980 yen (including tax) in Japan, $249 in US and euro 249 in Europe, 3G/Wi-Fi model will be available for 29,980 yen (including tax) in Japan, $299 in US and euro 299 in Europe and successively launch in global market starting the end of 2011.
"Vita," which means "Life" in Latin, was chosen as the most appropriate name for the next generation portable entertainment system as it enables a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context. SCE is aiming to transform every aspect of user's daily life into an entertainment experience.
PS Vita incorporates a beautiful 5-inch multi-touch organic light emitting diode (OLED) as the front display and a unique multi-touch pad on the rear. Together with the front touch screen and the rear touch pad, PS Vita offers new game play experiences never before seen on any device, allowing users to interact directly with games in three dimension-like motion, through "touch, grab, trace, push and pull" finger motions. Also PS Vita features two analog sticks which enable a wider range of game genres to be brought into the portable experience, such as shooters, action games, and fighting games. Exciting and attractive new titles*1 are scheduled to be released from SCE Worldwide Studios, including "GRAVITY DAZE," "Uncharted Golden Abyss," "Little Deviants," "Hot Shots Golf," "Reality Fighter," "Hustle Kings," "ModNation Racers," "Wipeout 2048" and "Super Stardust Delta," as well as from a broad range of third party game developers and publishers, which will deliver value only possible on PS Vita.
Also, by having both Wi-Fi and 3G network connectivity, together with various applications, PS Vita will enable infinite possibilities for users to "encounter," "connect," "discover," "share" and "play" with friends wherever they are. On January 27, 2011, SCE announced the first PS Vita application, "near," which will come pre-installed. It will let users discover what games PS Vita users in the vicinity are or were recently playing, as well as let users share their game information. "near" also enables location-based gaming features such as "gifting," in which a user can access virtual game-related items that other users are sharing, through checking in at geographic locations that others have also visited. The virtual items can include content unlocked from games, such as character costumes, weapons, and treasures. Sharing these items between users adds a unique dimension to the portable gaming experience on PS Vita while enhancing the social connectivity among the PS Vita community.
Additionally, PS Vita will come pre-installed with a newly developed application called "Party." "Party" is an innovative application for a portable entertainment system which enables users to enjoy voice chat or text chat not only during online gaming, but also when users are playing different games or using different applications such as internet browser. Through "Party," which offers a new form of social networking, and "near," which enables users to share their game information with other users anywhere, anytime, users can dramatically expand the boundaries of interactive communication.
Also a tutorial application called "Welcome Park," developed specifically to guide every user about PS Vita's brand new user interface such as the front touch display and the multi-touch pad on the rear, will come pre-installed. By playing "Welcome Park," users can easily become accustomed to the three dimension-like finger motions used on PS Vita.
SCE will vigorously promote PS Vita towards the launch as the next generation portable entertainment platform and work towards expanding the portable gaming market.*1 Some title names are tentative. Titles may differ by countries and regions.


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Packaging automation, scalable, modular
At Pack Expo 2013, B&R Industrial Automation is showing standards-based, scalable, and modular control systems integrating logic, motion, robotics, human-machine interface (HMI), safety, I/O and data acquisition in one software development environment.
B&R Industrial Automation is showing standards-based, scalable, and modular control systems integrating logic, motion, robotics, human-machine interface (HMI), safety, I/O and data acquisition in a unified software development environment, suitable for use by packaging original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and other OEMs, system integrators, and end users, at Pack Expo 2013 in Las Vegas, Sept. 23-25. A B&R industrial PC uses the latest third generation Intel Core i technology. B&R Automation PC 910 has, a multi-touch panel that has the form factor of an oversized Apple iPad, and also the latest integrated motor drive featuring flexible mounting and cabling options, onboard I/O and advanced safe motion functions, the AcoposMotor. B&R Automation Studio 4 is the newest generation of B&R's development environment that keeps development costs low and time to market short, despite the ever-increasing complexity of automation products.
Powerlink is a deterministic real-time protocol for standard Ethernet. This open source Ethernet protocol can address data and control needs on one wire, while reducing design costs, minimizing system jitter, and achieving maximum system performance.
The booth includes a multi-axis ActuatorLine demonstration unit from the linear technology manufacturer Rollon. The unit is a 5 actuator- 3 axis of motion infrared target practice game that is driven by B&R controls. Visitors will be able to test their shooting skills.
A demonstration unit featuring the Cognex In-Sight 7000 series vision system communicates via Powerlink and incorporates visualization and control technology for high-speed and high-precision product monitoring in production line operation.
Several North American and international machine builders will exhibit packaging machines using B&R technology. The machines will include the full range of primary, secondary and end-of-line packaging processes.
Support for students
For the third year in a row, B&R Industrial Automation's Packaging Solutions Group is sponsoring the student contest at Pack Exp, now officially called the Pack Solutions Challenge, for university students. This year's challenge is to recommend a packaging solution that provides an upgraded clean, accurate, drip-free filling system for mouthwash packaging that can handle the rigorous changeover demands of a private-label environment. Show attendees can view the students' recommendations and vote for their favorite at the Education & Workforce Development Pavilion in the Upper South hall.
B&R Industrial Automation Corp. is based in Roswell, Ga.
– Edited by Mark T. Hoske, content manager, CFE Media, Control Engineering, and Plant Engineering, firstname.lastname@example.com.
B&R Industrial Automation is a CSIA member as of 2/26/2015
Do you have experience and expertise with the topics mentioned in this content? You should consider contributing to our CFE Media editorial team and getting the recognition you and your company deserve. Click here to start this process.


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Washington D.C., Feb 5, 2013 / 02:02 am
Representatives of the U.S. bishops' conference and four Reformed Christian denominations have publicly affirmed that they recognize each other's baptisms as valid.
"We are overjoyed at this historic recognition of one another's baptism and are committed to move forward in a new round exploring a common vision of the church," said Auxiliary Bishop Denis J. Madden of Baltimore.
The bishop, who chairs the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, praised the cooperative efforts that resulted in the Jan. 29 signing of the Common Agreement on the Mutual Recognition of Baptism.
The statement was signed by members of the bishops' committee and four Protestant denominations – the Christian Reformed Church in North America, the Presbyterian Church-USA, the Reformed Church in America and the United Church of Christ.
The signing took place at a prayer service at St. Mary Cathedral in Austin, Texas, during the opening of the annual meeting of Christian Churches Together, an ecumenical association of more than 40 Christian groups.
A copy of the agreement was given to each member of Christian Churches Together, in the hopes that they would be encouraged to consider whether they would also join in recognizing the baptisms of the other denominations.
The baptismal agreement came out of the seventh round of the Catholic-Reformed Dialogue in the U.S.
That portion of the dialogue, which ran from 2003-2010, found that the five groups agreed on a formula for baptism, which must "include flowing water and be performed in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit," according to a statement by the bishops' conference.
The U.S. bishops voted in November 2010 to approve the agreement, and members of the Catholic-Reformed Dialogue ratified the document privately in 2011.
The bishops' conference referred to the Jan. 29 signing as "a ceremonial representation of the growing unity between Christians and the progress of the ecumenical movement."
This is the first such baptismal agreement that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has approved.
Father John Crossin, executive director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs at the U.S. bishops' conference, hopes that the Common Agreement will bridge efforts for future ecumenical work.
"There has already been a strong response from (Christian Churches Together) members who have said this represents healing," said Fr. Crossin, who is an Oblate of Saint Francis De Sales.
"In the past, there has been much confusion, and even pain, over the failure to reach an understanding on this question," he continued. "Our hope is that this would be a model for similar agreements."


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Lorenzo Ugolini
Lorenzo Ugolini holds a Ph.D. in 'Cultures of Communication' at the Catholic University of Milan. From 2008 to 2012, he was a junior researcher at Luiss University in Rome, where he collaborated with the Communication Research Centre, directed by Massimo Baldini and Derrick De Kerckhove. His research fields are journalism, advertising and professional ethics in communication. Among his publications are SportNews. Modi e mode del giornalismo sportivo italiano (UCSI-UniSOB, 2013, with M. Spalletta), 'Italian journalism and the credibility issue. A comparative analysis' (with M. Spalletta, Medijska Istraživanja/Media Research, Croatian Journal for Journalism and the Media, 2011) and Séguéla lava più bianco. Genio e regolatezza al servizio della pubblicità (UCSI-UniSOB-CDG, 2009).


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This column has been written for the Unz Review.
The Internet has been buzzing with reactions to the latest Stratfor report about how a military confrontation between Russia and the United States would play out. I did not find the full text, I suppose it is behind a Stratfor paywall or for subscribers only (and, frankly, I have better use for my time and money than to subscribe to that rubbish), but since the same excerpts are quoted everywhere, I might as well list them here and assume that they form the highlights of the article. Here we go (taken from the Business Insider quoting and paraphrasing the original article):
While Russia has some advanced surface-to-air missile systems and very agile fighter aircraft in Syria, it wouldn't fare well in what would be a short, brutal air war against the US (…) Russia has "about 25 planes, only about ten of which are dedicated to air superiority (Su-35s and Su-30s), and against that they'll have to face fifth-gen stealth fighters, dozens of strike fighters, F-15s, F-16s, as well as B-1 and B-52 bombers. And of course the vast US Navy and pretty much hundreds of Tomahawks." "Russians have a lot of air defenses, they're not exactly defenseless by any means," Lamrani told Business Insider, "But the US has very heavy air superiority." Even though individual Russian platforms come close to matching, and in some ways exceed the capability of US jets, it comes down to numbers. If US surveillance detected a mass mobilization of Russian jets in response to the back-and-forth, the US wouldn't just wait politely for Russians to get their planes in the sky so they can fight back. Instead, a giant salvo of cruise missiles would pour in from the USS George H. W. Bush carrier strike group, much like the April 7 strike on Syria's Sharyat air base. But this time, the missiles would have to saturate and defeat Russia's missile defenses first, which they could do by sheer numbers if not using electronic attack craft. Then, after neutering Russia's defenses, the ships could target the air base, not only destroying planes on the ground but also tearing up the runways, so no planes could take off. At this point US and Coalition aircraft would have free reign to pass overhead and completely devastate Russian forces.
So is the author, Omar Lamrani, right in his assessment? Yes and no. Yes, that is exactly what would happen if the Russians decided to engage their small number of air superiority aircraft to try to prevail over the entire CENCOM and NATO air force for the control of the Syrian skies. And no, simply because the Russians would never do that.
The author of the article, a civilian with no military experience, makes a basic mistake, he assumes that the Russians will act like idiots and fight the kind of war the US would want to impose upon them. That is kind of assumptions most newbies make and which make for excellent propaganda articles. The problem is, of course, that there is absolutely no reason at all why the Russians should collaborate with such a ridiculous scenario. So, let's get back to basics here.
Question 1: are the Russians in a position of weakness in Syria?
Yes, absolutely. And they know that too. First, the Russians are operating only 2 facilities (Tartus and Khmeimim), far away from home, and the size of their task force in Syria is tiny compared to the huge amount of firepower available to the AngloZionists and their allies. Second, the USA have poured billions of dollars into this region to make sure that the Soviet Union could never successfully invade Iran and not only do they have an immense numerical superiority over the Russians, they also have a world-class network of bases where even more forces can be brought in. Syria is squeezed between CENTCOM to the south and east and NATO to the north and west while the closets Russian forces are in Crimea. The truth is that not only could the US and NATO take control of the Syrian skies, even Israel alone could probably do it. So, assuming the Russians are not suicidal imbeciles, what do you think they should do? If you were Russian, how would you play your cards?
Question 2: do the Russians have advantages of their own?
Absolutely. In fact, they have many advantages over the Americans. Here they are in no particular order:
- All the boots on the ground that matter are either Russian allies or at least on good terms with Russia: the Syrians, the Iranians, Hezbollah and even Turkey are all much closer to Russia than to the AngloZionists. The only AngloZionist boots on the ground that matter are Daesh & Co.
- Internal public opinion: in Russia, the Russian military intervention is understood and backed by a overwhelming majority of Russians. In the USA the public is clueless and profoundly skeptical of this latest US war of choice. Not only that, but Putin personally has an immense credibility with the Russian people, while Trump is barely avoiding being impeached.
- External public opinion: while in the USA the Ziomedia is engaged in a truly heroic effort to avoid even mentioning the fact that even the US presence in, and nevermind the actual aggression against, Syria is completely illegal in terms of international law, most of the planet is quite aware of that. This only further erodes the US standing worldwide.
- The Russians have fewer lucrative targets to offer the AngloZionists than the Americans. Simply put, the Russians have Tartus and Khmeimim. The Americans have an long list of bases and facilities in the region which all could become potential targets.
- The willpower, courage and determination of the Russian solider is stronger than his US counterparts by many orders of magnitude. There are many reasons for this, historical as well as political, but I don't think that anybody doubts the fact that while Americans love to kill for their country, they are much less enthusiastic about dying for it, especially when the "for it" part is extremely dubious and when the frontline solider feels that he is being used in some complex political game which he does not understand but where he is definitely used as cannon fodder.
- There is Russian personnel and military hardware interspersed within the Syrian forces. We know that Russian technical specialists, military advisors and special forces are operating on the ground in Syria. This means that the Russian can probably use a Syrian S-300 to shoot down a US aircraft without necessarily giving the US proof of their involvement. To use and old CIA term, the Russian can have "plausible deniability".
- We know that Russia has a vastly superior intelligence capability in Syria as reflected in the kind of damage Russian air and missile strike inflict on their targets especially when compared to the painfully obvious lack of US understanding of what's really going on on the ground.
So what does all this add up to?
1) Plausible deniability in the air
First, it is pretty darn clear that the Russians have no incentive to begin a large scale air battle in the skies of Syria with their US counterparts. However, the fact that such a battle would not be in their interest does not mean that they would necessarily avoid it either. For the time being, the Russians seem to have chose a strategy of deliberate uncertainty and harassment of the US aircraft, but they could decide to engage US aircraft using their ground based S-300/S-400 batteries. Here is how they could do it.
First, the Russians are the only ones in Syria with S-400s. So let's set them aside for a minute and keep them for serious emergency purposes. Next, let's look at the Syrian inventory of air defenses found on Wikipedia. Notice especially this one: the Pantsir-S1 (SA-22). According to Wikipedia, there are 50 SA-22 in Syria. Have you ever heard of the Panstsir-S1? Probably not.
Forget the S-300/S-400, think Pantsir
The Pantsir-S1 (aka "SA-22" in US/NATO classification) is an absolutely awe-inspiring air defense system, yet nobody in the general public or Ziomedia ever mentions it. Let's take a look at it:
The Pantsir-S1 is mobile short to medium range surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery weapon system which uses phased array radars for both target acquisition and tracking. Detection range: 32-45km (20-28mi). Tracking range: 24-28km (15-17mi). It can track up to 20 targets, engage up to 3 with 4 missiles at the same time. It has a secondary Autonomous Optoelectronic System with a 25km (15mi) engagement rage against a small F-16 size aircraft. The Pantsir's missiles are solid-fuel rockets with a range of 20km (12mi), a ceiling of 15km (9mi) and a speed of Mach 2.3-2.8. The Pantsir also has two dual 30mm autocannons shooting up to 700 rounds of high explosive at a rate of 2'500 rounds per minute at a distance up to 4km (2.5mi). Now here is the really neat thing about it: both the Russian and the Syrian operate these mobile systems. In other words, not only might these Pantsirs be anywhere, but they might be operated by anybody. Heck, even the Iranians have them!
Though the Pantsirs look the part (they look like something out of a Terminator movie to me), they are even more dangerous than they appear because while they are capable of fully autonomous operations, they are also designed to be plugged-in into a global network via a digitally encrypted datalink which makes it possible for them to receive their engagement data from other land-based and airborne platforms. Finally, keep in mind that nobody really knows how many Pantsirs the Russians have brought with them to Syria, how many the Syrians currently operate, how many "Syrian" Pantsirs are operated by Russians and plugged in into the Russian digital air-defense network or, for that matter, how many Syrian and Iranian Pantsirs might be out there.
So what do we have? A system which is extremely mobile (being mounted on a heavy high mobility truck), easy to conceal (being small), which can engage any airborne target at altitudes ranging form 0m to 15'000m as far as 20'000m away. To do so, they can used their passive electronically scanned array (PESA), their Autonomous Optoelectronic System (AOS) or even data received from other radars including Russian S-300/S-400, Su-35 or AWACS.
Initially and officially, the Russian Pantsirs are solely tasked with defending the longer ranged S-300/S-400 systems and the Russian installations in Khmeimim and Tartus. But in reality they could be rapidly deployed anywhere and used to shoot down US aircraft with no evidence whatsoever that the Russians did it! Of course, the Russian would have to be very careful as to what source they would use to track the US aircraft and provide the Pantsir's missile an engagement solution. As far as I know, the Pantsir's missiles do not have an active or even semi-active radar system, but their AOS allows for completely silent/passive engagements. Depending on what intelligence assets the Americans do or do not have available at the time of attack, their might be no way of proving who shot down the US aircraft.
The bottom line is this: while the world is focused on the bigger S-300/S-400 capabilities, the Russians already have in place a far more flexible short-medium range air-defense system which would be impossible to destroy with Tomahawks (being mobile) and very hard to destroy with airstrikes. That system could be deployed anywhere in Syria and it could be used while providing the Russian with a plausible deniability. Of course, the US could try to fly outside the Pantsir's flight envelope, but that would make use of any airpower very difficult. Another option for the Americans would be to rely solely on their low-RCS aircraft (B-1, B-2 for strikes, and F-22s to protect them), but that would dramatically decrease the overall capabilities of CENTOM/NATO over Syria.
I will conclude this section by reminding everybody that neither the US nor any other NATO country has ever had to operate in an environment as dangerous as the Syrian skies. The poor Serbs had only ancient air defenses and yet even against them NATO failed miserably. In Syria the Russian air defenses could give the Americans a run for their money without ever using any of their (admittedly few) air superiority aircraft.
2) Plausible deniability on the ground
Has anybody ever considered that the Russians might decide to attack US forces deployed on the ground in Syria (or Iraq for that matter?)? Apparently not, if only because most people would assume that the Russian force in Syria is tiny and therefore cannot attack a much larger and stronger US force. But, just as with the air warfare, this is a mistaken assumption based on the idea that the US would know who is attacking. In reality, the Russians could attack the US using their special forces (either those already deployed or specially brought in) to attack US targets and retain plausible deniability.
This is what we already know:
Russian operators are already deployed and active in Syria:
First the famous Spetsnaz ( Spetsnaz GRU Gsh). These are special units drawn either from the Southern Military District or, possibly, subordinated directly to the Military Intelligence (GRU) HQ in Moscow. Unlike the Spetsnaz GRU forces of the GRU brigades of the Military Districts, these small groups (8-12 men) are staffed by career officers only.
Next, the Russian Special Forces (SSO), a relatively new creation not to be confused with the Spetsnaz GRU even if they are similar in many ways, are also more or less officially in Syria (Russian TV channels have made reports and interviews with them). They are subordinated to General Staff of the Armed Forces. Here is a photo of them taken by a Russian journalist in Syria:
Finally, there аre reports of some unnamed but very secret Russian unit working in Syria (for example here) but neither Vympel nor Zaslon fit the bill (the former is now subordinated to the FSB, i.e. deal with internal security issues, while the latter is more of a protective service for officials, their residences and Russian civilians abroad). I have found no info on who they are, but my guess is that they are what Vympel used to be: special forces of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) working in close collaboration with the SVR agent networks in Syria.
Whatever may be the case, the Russians already have more then enough special forces in Syria to start attacking US targets in Syria or even elsewhere in the region. For example, during the battle for Aleppo there have been numerous reports of Russian snipers killing Daesh leader one after the other almost decapitating their entire leadership. That could happen to top US officers on the ground in Syria. Special forces could also arrange for "unexplicable" missile strikes hitting US forces. But the most important aspect here is that these forces could be used in complete secrecy with nothing identifying them as Russians. They would look like Arabs, speaks like Arabs and have Arabic IDs with them. The Soviets did use exactly this technique in Afghanistan to overthrow Afghan President Hafizullah Amin. Likewise, Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov has openly admitted that Chechen operators have been infiltrated into the Daesh command structure.. Finally, even if "Russians" are caught and somehow identified, there are about 5'000 Russian citizens of all sorts of ethnic groups (including Slavs) fighting in the ranks of Daesh and it will be impossible to prove that fighter X or fighter Z are agents of a Russian intelligence service.
Bottom line is this: Russia also has the option of ground attacks against US forces with plausible deniability.
So think of it – Russians SAMS shooting at US aircraft in the air, and Russian special forces killing US officers on the ground. And all this with complete plausible deniability.
Not convinced yet?
One the many uses of plausible deniability, especially against a systematically lying enemy
You might wonder how useful plausible deniability is against a country which makes up all sorts of ridiculous stories about Russian hackers stealing elections or invisible Russian armies in the eastern Ukraine. And I agree, a country which has 16 intelligence agencies and a long and shameful history of making up intelligence – yes, sure, they could say that "the Russkies did it" and have the Ziomedia repeat it all over and over again without any evidence.
But there is another side to this story: since the US propaganda machine has made up so many stories about genocidal Serbs, Viagra-enhanced raping Libyans, baby-tossing Iraqis, wannabe-nuclear Iranians, barrel-bombing Syrians and God knows who else – how credible will they be when they accuse the Russian of "this vicious and dastardly act" (whatever the act is, really)? Even as I write this, there are reports that the White House is already setting the stage for yet another false flag attack in Syria. Let's be honest here and agree that Uncle Sam lies every time he moves his lips and while the brain-dead Ziomedia pretends to take each lie very seriously, the rest of the planet, including much of the American public, is under no illusions.
Now imagine a Russian operated Pantsir-S1 crew in Syria shooting down US aircraft or Russian operators blowing up a tent with the HQ of the US forces in Syria. Not only will there be no proof that the Russians did it, but even if there was, nobody would trust the Americans anyway. Furthermore, this also begs the following question: would it really be in the USA's best interest to point the finger at the Russians? I would argue that it would not. It would make far more sense to blame the Syrians, then bomb some kind of Syrian government building (say the probably empty military intelligence building in downtown Damascus) and declare that "a message has been sent" then to take the military and political risk of attacking Russian forces in Syria.
Could the Americans retaliate in kind?
Probably not. Remember, they don't have the boots on the ground, the intelligence capabilities or the political support (internal and external) to get away with that. Not only that, but US special forces have a long history of screwing up even relatively simple operations and I don't see them trying to get away with a direct attack on Russian forces in Khmeimim or elsewhere. At most, they will do what they almost always do – subcontract the mission to some locals, which works great against defenseless civilians and ends up on disaster against a real "hard" target.
The many paradoxes of warfare
First, we should always keep in mind that any military action is just a means towards a political goal, the "continuation of politics by other means". Because of that highly political nature, there are circumstances where being the weaker side can yield advantages. The key to the defensive strategy of the weaker side is not to let the stronger side impose the kind of warfare which maximizes the stronger side's advantages. In the case of Syria, trying to defeat the entire air force of CENTCOM with just a few fighters would be plain stupid. And since the US does have an immense advantage in the number of cruise missiles it can launch – do what the Serbs did in Kosovo and Hezbollah did in 2006 against Israel: don't give them a target. In the Syrian context this means: use only mobile air defense systems. Last but not least, hit the Americans were it hurts most – their morale. Remember how crazy they got when they could not find out who was attacking them in Vietnam?
An elephant in a porcelain store is a scary sight for sure. But once you get over your initial fear, you soon will realize that being a big bad elephant makes it very difficult to make a smart move. That is exactly the USA's problem, especially the US armed forces: they are so big and confident that almost every move they make lacks to sophisticated caution imposed by life on a much weaker actor. This is why the almost always end up breaking the store and looking stupid. Add to this a quasi-total focus on the short-term quickfix, and you get a recipe for disaster.
The two options for a Russian counter-attack under the cover of plausible deniability are just the two that came to my mind. In reality there are many more, including many even much less "visible" than those I have suggested. My main goal was to illustrate that there is absolutely no reason for the Russians to behave like Omar Lamrani suggested in his frankly silly article. The truth is that I have absolutely no idea how the Russians might respond, and that is exactly how it should be. All I am sure of is that they won't respond how Lamrani thinks they will, that's all.
The wiser folks in the Pentagon and, apparently, on the ground are trying hard to avoid getting tangled up with the Russians not because they fear some specific Russian response, but because they are aware that they are dealing with an unpredictable and sophisticated actor. The good news is that the Russians are also trying hard to avoid getting tangled up with the Americans, especially so far away from home and smack in the middle of a thoroughly CENTCOM/NATO-controlled part of the world.
In conclusion, I want to mention just a small sampling of what I did not mention but which US commanders will have to consider before deciding on a direct attack on Russian forces: various naval scenarios, especially those involving diesel attack submarines, Russian options to deploy into Iran, Russian retaliatory options in other theaters such as Iraq, Pakistan and, especially, Afghanistan. Here is a good one: *real* Russian cracking ("hacking" is the wrong word) of crucial US computer networks, including the release of possibly very embarrassing information (think of it as "Wikileaks on steroids"). Finally, if cornered, one possibly option for Russia would be to draw US forces, resources and energy away from Syria to some other region truly critical to the USA. DPRK anybody?
The options are endless and the stakes very high. In the dreamworld of Mr Lamrani it's all simple and easy. Which only goes to prove, yet again, that war is far to serious a matter to entrusted to civilians.
The Saker


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While it seems that the MAP-21 transportation law passed fairly recently, Congress only passed a two-year bill and MAP-21 expires in September 2014. Congress is starting to hold hearings on the transportation law and to consider how to fund the next bill. This gives us nine months to work with Congress to help them understand the impact of MAP-21 on creating safe routes to school and healthy communities, and areas of the law in which we would like to see improvements.
To make our case on Capitol Hill, it's important to know how states are implementing the new Transportation Alternatives program (TAP). We have been tracking the decisions states make in many areas, including funding levels, staffing plans, matching requirements, when the first competitions will take place, and how Safe Routes to School projects will be treated.
With our latest update to the TAP state snapshot chart, as of December 1, 2013, we know that most states are using all available TAP funds, with a handful of states either transferring some funds away from TAP or supplementing it, and more than half of states have their application processes underway. But many states have not yet made decisions about how to proceed. We encourage Safe Routes to School advocates to review the decisions your state has made, and to work with advocates in your state to push states to maximize funding for TAP and to move forward with TAP competitions.
That brings me to our plans for 2014 on Capitol Hill. The Safe Routes Partnership has issued our legislative platform outlining the issues we will push for in the next transportation bill. We will focus our efforts in four key areas:
- Strengthening the Transportation Alternatives program: We'll be looking to shore up funding, address the new Safe Routes to School funding match requirements, allow more entities to compete for projects and ease regulatory burdens.
- Address rising rates of bicycle and pedestrian injuries and fatalities: The first step in this goal is already underway, with the new legislation requiring a safety performance measure to reduce non-motorized fatalities and serious injuries. This performance measure is critical to ensure states track non-motorized deaths and injuries, and use safety funds to reduce dangerous conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians.
- Improve data collection and research: We'll advocate for greater funding and emphasis on improving data collection and modeling for bicycle and pedestrian travel.
- Ensure that our transportation system is healthy and equitable: We'll support a requirement for Complete Streets policies, more local control of transportation dollars and more equity in transportation decision-making.
Please take a look at our legislative platform for more details in each of these areas. Most importantly, be prepared to weigh in with Congress this year when we put out calls to action. We will need supporters of Safe Routes to School to call and email their members of Congress and ask them to come join you at Safe Routes to School events to make this platform a reality.
So, let's work together to ensure that 2014 is a year in which a transportation bill that is supportive of Safe Routes to School, bicycling and walking is signed into law. Stay tuned for more specific calls to action and updates as Congress gets underway.


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This was my grandfather Zimmeth's oldest sister, affectionately known as Phene. She was born in 1876 and grandpa in 1888.
From the Big Rapids (Michigan) Pioneer, April 17, 1972:
Josephine S. Whiteside, 95, R. 2,Stanwood, died Sunday afternoon at Community Hospital. She was born in East Tawas, and had resided in the Stanwood area for the last six years. She was preceded in death by her husband, George in 1940. They were married in 1901.
Mrs. Whiteside was a member of St. Apollina's Catholic Church, Morley. She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Georgiana Bradley, and Mrs. Virginia Hall, both of Newaygo; three sons, Emery, Oliver, both of Stanwood; and Glenn, San Gabriel, Calif.; eight grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren and a brother, Charles Zimmeth, Pinconning.
The picture on the left was taken on the occasion of my grandfather's 74th birthday. Phene would have been 86. They were the last two surviving children of the eleven born to August and Augusta Zimmeth.
Copyright 2010, ACK for Gene Notes


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Chronic Pain Cases
The article below is taken from MedicineNet.com and specifically, more information can be found at http://www.medicinenet.com/chronic_pain/article.htm
After an automobile collision or other accident resulting in injury, you might suffer from chronic pain.
Contact the lawyers at Kosteckyj & Parhar (604) 742 – 2285 for a free consultation anywhere in B.C.
Introduction to Chronic Pain
You know it at once. It may be the fiery sensation of a burn moments after your finger touches the stove. Or it's a dull ache above your brow after a day of stress and tension. Or you may recognize it as a sharp pierce in your back after you lift something heavy.
It is pain. In its most benign form, it warns us that something isn't quite right, that we should take medicine or see a doctor. At its worst, however, pain robs us of our productivity, our well-being, and, for many of us suffering from extended illness, our very lives. Pain is a complex perception that differs enormously among individual patients, even those who appear to have identical injuries or illnesses.
In 1931, the French medical missionary Dr. Albert Schweitzer wrote, "Pain is a more terrible lord of mankind than even death itself." Today, pain has become the universal disorder, a serious and costly public health issue, and a challenge for family, friends, and health care providers who must give support to the individual suffering from the physical as well as the emotional consequences of pain.
A Brief History of Pain
Ancient civilizations recorded on stone tablets accounts of pain and the treatments used: pressure, heat, water, and sun. Early humans related pain to evil, magic, and demons. Relief of pain was the responsibility of sorcerers, shamans, priests, and priestesses, who used herbs, rites, and ceremonies as their treatments.
The Greeks and Romans were the first to advance a theory of sensation, the idea that the brain and nervous system have a role in producing the perception of pain. But it was not until the Middle Ages and well into the Renaissance-the 1400s and 1500s-that evidence began to accumulate in support of these theories. Leonardo da Vinci and his contemporaries came to believe that the brain was the central organ responsible for sensation. Da Vinci also developed the idea that the spinal cord transmits sensations to the brain.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the study of the body-and the senses-continued to be a source of wonder for the world's philosophers. In 1664, the French philosopher Rene Descartes described what to this day is still called a "pain pathway." Descartes illustrated how particles of fire, in contact with the foot, travel to the brain and he compared pain sensation to the ringing of a bell.
In the 19th century, pain came to dwell under a new domain-science-paving the way for advances in pain therapy. Physician-scientists discovered that opium, morphine, codeine, and cocaine could be used to treat pain. These drugs led to the development of aspirin, to this day the most commonly used pain reliever. Before long, anesthesia-both general and regional-was refined and applied during surgery.
"It has no future but itself," wrote the 19th century American poet Emily Dickinson, speaking about pain. As the 21st century unfolds, however, advances in pain research are creating a less grim future than that portrayed in Dickinson's verse, a future that includes a better understanding of pain, along with greatly improved treatments to keep it in check.
The Two Faces of Pain: Acute and Chronic
What is pain? The International Association for the Study of Pain defines it as: An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage.
It is useful to distinguish between two basic types of pain, acute and chronic, and they differ greatly.
- Acute pain, for the most part, results from disease, inflammation, or injury to tissues. This type of pain generally comes on suddenly, for example, after trauma or surgery, and may be accompanied by anxiety or emotional distress. The cause of acute pain can usually be diagnosed and treated, and the pain is self-limiting, that is, it is confined to a given period of time and severity. In some rare instances, it can become chronic.
- Chronic pain is widely believed to represent disease itself. It can be made much worse by environmental and psychological factors. Chronic pain persists over a longer period of time than acute pain and is resistant to most medical treatments. It can—and often does—cause severe problems for patients. A person may have two or more co-existing chronic pain conditions. Such conditions can include chronic fatigue syndrome, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease, interstitial cystitis, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and vulvodynia. It is not known whether these disorders share a common cause.


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Frequently Asked Questions
- The box I received shows a different product from what is inside it.
- To be environmentally-friendly and to offer you competitive prices, we re-use all our packing materials.
- It looks like my box has been opened and re-sealed.
- We inspect many of our products before shipping them to be sure that they are undamaged and complete. Please contact us right away if there is anything missing from your shipment.
Products - General
- Can I get color samples?
- We offer free color sample chips for all HCP products -- you pay only a minimal shipping charge. For most other tile products, you will need to place an order for one tile.
Products - Shower Kits
- What is the difference between a Pro shower kit and a Pro Advanced shower kit?
- The differences are in the details. Pro kits have traditional drains familiar to most installers. In contrast, Pro Advanced kits feature a modern drain system that has all the benefits of a traditional system but none of the drawbacks. These drains are easier to install, replace, maintain, and keep clean.
- What is included in a Pro Advanced shower kit?
- Shower pan (with extension sets for larger sizes)
- 108 - 216 square feet of waterproofing membrane
- 33 - 66 linear feet of waterproof joint band
- 4 pre-shaped inside corners
- 1 drain flange with ABS or PVC neck (check your local standards for using ABS or PVC)
- 1 tube waterproofing sealant (NobleSeal)
- Drain grate riser with construction plug and hair trap
- Drain grate
- (Optional) Curb pieces
- (Optional) 2 outside corners for the curb
- How do I install a Pro Advanced kit or an Ebbe drain? What are these black beads?
- You can read or download the instructions here. The black beads are used for positioning the drain.
- What additional tools and materials are needed to install a Pro Advanced shower kit?
- Jigsaw (for subfloor drain hole) & Drill (for pilot hole)
- Premium Modified (Latex/Polymer) Thin-set Mortar (no premixed)
- 5-Gallon Bucket
- Mixer, caulking gun
- 1/4" x 3/8" up to 1/4" x 1/4" square or V-notch trowel
- Margin Trowel
- Utility Knife
- PVC or ABS Cement, and section of coupler pipe for connection
- Level
- Acetone (less than a pint) - consider your ventilation
- What do I need to install a mud shower kit? (Also known as a PVC liner, or Mortar Shower Bed)
- Tools: Trowels, buckets, screwdriver, drill, adhesive tape or others, depending on the specifics of the install
- A method to level the subfloor (self-leveling compound or other)
- A method to slope the liner of your pan toward the drain. A slope of 1 to 3 degrees is acceptable (Like the Pre-Pitch Sticks and extensions by Mark-E Ind.)
- Enough PVC liner to go up the wall 6-12 inches (Be careful to put no holes, nails, screws, or staples through the liner in the inside of walls of the shower)
- Dry-pack mortar (1:4 to 1:6 Cement:Sand ratio depending on preference)
- A method to Slope the tile surface smoothly toward the drain. Most code requirements state a minimum of a 2 degree slope (1/4" rise over 12") and 4 degrees maximum (1/2" over 12"). (Like the Quick-Pitch sticks and Extensions by Mark-E Ind.)
- Why can't I leave my PVC shower liner flat on the floor? Why do I need to pitch my shower liner?
Just like with the gutters/drains on your roof, the water flow to the drain must be uninhibited. No slope means no drainage.
Without sloping your liner water can build up in your mud bed and break down the mortar, grout, thinset, increase the likelyhood of mold or bacteria growth in/on your shower as it will stay damp for longer. - Should I install a Mud Kit (drypack mortar and PVC liner, OR mortar and membrane) or use a pre-formed foam pan?
Pre-formed pans are easily modifiable and easy to install on any substrate. They are great for DIY, as well as for a fast and clean installation by a professional. These kits do not work well for tiles smaller than 2"x2" without additional work.
If you have a very custom shower shape, or a shower much larger than 72"x72", are installing tile smaller than 2"x2", or just want an incredibly strong shower you should look into a "Mud Kit" like the Mark-E system for PVC liners or the PRO ADVanced Mud Kit which uses a modern waterproofing system. - Why is the PRO ADVanced shower kit better than the rest? (Schluter Kerdi, Prova, Pro custom)
The PRO ADVanced or PRO ADV shower system comes in pre-formed pan or mud (mortar) pans for your preference. They have the same level of warrantee as competing brands (Schluter Kerdi, Prova), but the PRO ADV system has many improvements and often totals to a lower price than competitors.
- The PRO ADV systems use the PRO-WP membrane which is rated at .07perm for water vapor, meaning it is the best protection you can get in a membrane system. Nearly double the rating of Kerdi.
- The PRO ADV systems are rated for use with Modified thinsets, meaning a stronger install and ease of material sourcing. (Modified thinsets are often required for installing porcelain or glass tiles)
- Our preformed pan system is stronger. Featuring a denser foam pan, and a stronger drain flange.
- Our drain flange is supported by both the pan and the subfloor, meaning it is much stronger than the competitors' flanges which rely only on the pan for support. Our flanges even include a built-in removable / cleanable hair trap inside the drain riser.
- The PRO ADV systems are fully customizable with 5 pan options, your choice of curb length, and 10 grate cover finishes to choose from (including 3 variation of Nickel to pair with any Stainless Steel fixture)
- What does "modified thinset" mean?
- Modified thinset is an industry term for any thinset mortar which has additives (usually latex or acrylic).
- Is "X" brand thinset a modified or unmodified thinset?
- For shower kits most of the modified thinsets you are looking for are listed as compliant with ANSI 118.4 and ANSI 118.11. Unmodified thinsets will be listed as compliant with ANSI 118.1.
- Why is Modified thinset better for my installation?
- Modified thinsets are stronger once cured. Most have additional anti-crack features, and better initial tack / grab (AKA less "slump"). They also are required for use with porcelain and glass tile.
- Can I use Modified thinset with the Schluter / Kerdi System?
- Usually no. Schluter does not allow for use of modified thinsets with their system in nearly all installations - it will void your warranty with Schluter. The PRO ADVanced systems do allow modified thinsets.
- I can't see any images on your site, and I use the Kaspersky 2012 antivirus program.
This problem happens on multiple web sites.
- Go to the Web Anti-Virus panel in Kaspersky.
- Add our site to your trusted URLs by typing in the following, including the asterisks: https://kitchenbathsupplycenter.com/*
- Wait a few minutes.
- Clear your browser's cache.


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Kingston's new quad channel 8GB kit is advertised to run at 2400MHz via XMP, which should mean that as long as your motherboard supports that speed you should be able to set that speed in your BIOS, no tweaking needed. Bjorn3D tried it out and it worked with no problems at all, though no matter what they tried when manually overclocking the DIMMs, they could not surpass the 2.4GHz mark. That is certainly a point in Kingston's favour but there is also one major problem with these DIMMs and that would be price. At the price of $208.00 that Bjorn3D found these chips for sale at you could pick up 16GB of 2133MHz RAM from Corsair and have enough change left in your pocket for dinner.
"Today we take a look at an 8GB high performance memory offering from Kingston. These modules run at a blazing fast speed of 2400MHz while offering full stability in quad channel."
Here are some more Memory articles from around the web:
- GSkill RipjawsX 32GB 2133MHz @ Guru of 3D
- GeIL 16 GB Quad-Channel DDR3-1600 and DDR3-1867 Kits Roundup @ X-bit Labs
- Corsair Vengeance 16GB Quad Channel 1600 MHz Memory Review @ HCW
- Exceleram Rippler ERB300A 4 GB PC3-12800 CAS 6 1.65 V DDR3 @ techPowerUp
- Kingston HyperX Genesis 16GB 2133MHz Quad Channel Kit Review @ NikKTech
- Topower 8GB Black Edition 1333mhz @ Kitguru
- G.Skill Ripjaws X F3 2133C9Q-32GXH Review @ OCC
- VisionTek Ultimate Performance Red Label PC3-17000 4x4GB Quad-Channel Memory Kit Review @ Hi Tech Legion
- Intel Core i7 3820 / X79 Platform – How much Memory is Ideal? @ PCSTATS


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Comprehensive and cross automation softwares offering the highest level of productivity and reliability.
Digitech has been a leading provider of paperless solutions for more than 25 years
Created in 1992, Digitech is editor and integrator of software solutions for electronic documentation. Thanks to its unique know-how "business" and his technical mastery of the entire information chain, Digitech is market leader and its solutions help to manage hundreds of thousands of documents each year in governments, local and regional authorities, public institutions, banks, insurance companies and large private accounts. Traded on the Euronext market place, it has a national and international scope with a presence in France, Switzerland, Romania and Africa. Digitech offers a scalable and integrated software offering: capture, processing and management of electronic information around two main product lines, coupled with various cross-flow modules:
Digitech has expertise in organization, regulation, project management and invests 20% of its turnover in R & D. Its mission is to support you successfully in the implementation of your project:
Its ambition is to help you achieving your goals:


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Flash Raise Funding
Hard Money Loans Funded Fast
Flash Raise Funding, a Texas-based hard money lender, is a leader. We offer fast funding and excellent rates. We offer hard money loans for fix-and-flip, rentals, multifamily, and commercial and cash-out refinancing. Visit our website or call us today to inquire about funding.
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city in the United States, the fourth-most-populous city in Texas, the second-most-populous state capital city, and the most populous state capital that is not also the most populous city in its state. It has been one of the fastest growing large cities in the United States since 2010. Downtown Austin and Downtown San Antonio are approximately 80 miles (129 km) apart, and both fall along the Interstate 35 corridor. Some observers believe that the two regions may some day form a new "metroplex" similar to Dallas and Fort Worth.
Allandale, Barton Hills, Bouldin Creek, Brentwood, Central Austin, Central East Austin, Cherry Creek, Cherrywood, Chimney Hill, Circle C North, Clarksville, Copperfield, Crestview, Dan Jean Oaks, East Austin


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By JOHN FLESHER | AP Environmental Writer
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — The superintendent of Isle Royale National Park says officials have decided not to bring more wolves to the Lake Superior island chain for now to prevent their dwindling population from dying out.
Phyllis Green said Wednesday that after consulting with experts, she's convinced there is time for a comprehensive study of the role that wolves and moose play in the park's ecosystem.
She said officials could reconsider importing wolves if gender imbalance prevents the island population from breeding or if moose overbrowse park vegetation.
Wolves are believed to have migrated to Isle Royale from the Canadian or Minnesota mainland across ice bridges in the late 1940s. Their predator-prey relationship with moose is the subject of a world-renowned scientific study.
The wolves' numbers have dropped in recent years. Only nine remain.


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Make: Honda
OEM Air Filter Air Flow: 77.47 CFM
DNA Air Filter Air Flow: 152.20 CFM
DNA Increased Air Flow: 96.50%
DNA Filtering Efficiency: 98-99%
Product Information
- This DNA filter features DNA's advanced FCd (Full Contour design).
- Installation of the filter is very easy, simply follow the information that can be found in the Honda workshop manual.
- The filtering efficiency is extremely high at 98-99% filtering efficiency, with 4 layers of DNA Cotton.
- The flow of this DNA Fcd filter is very high, 96.50% more than the Honda stock paper filter!
- DNA Fcd air filter flow: 152.20 CFM (Cubic feet per minute)@1,5"H2O corrected @ 25degrees Celsius.
- Honda stock paper filter: 77.47 CFM (Cubic feet per minute) @1,5"H2O corrected @ 25degrees Celsius.
- This DNA filter is designed as a High flow filter for road use and race use.


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Today there is growing hostility toward belief in a Creator.
Ken Ham says that when talk-show host Bill Maher traveled to the Creation Museum two years ago, the outspoken atheist used devious means to secure an interview.
Maher then used footage of his visit in his 2008 documentary Religulous-which mocks a variety of faiths and takes aim at Ham, founder of the Kentucky-based ministry Answers in Genesis.
The museum, located near Cincinnati, has attracted more than 600,000 people since it opened in 2007. And despite Maher's criticism, Religulous didn't stem the flow of visitors.
Religulous grossed $12 million its first month. But the film generated less attention among Christians than Expelled, the documentary by Ben Stein that questions the truth of evolution.
Yet Ham doesn't expect harassment of his $27 million museum to cease, especially with this year's anniversaries of Charles Darwin's birth and his book The Origin of Species.
There is growing hostility in our culture toward creationism. Secular humanists fought Ham's attempts to acquire property several years ago, and many universities host lectures on how to oppose creationist groups.
"That's the sort of thing we see happening with education groups and museums," Ham said. "As far as the media is concerned, the worst … is the BBC and the British press. They have a real agenda to mock Christians and denigrate those who believe as we do."
Other creationist organizations have faced legal battles. Two examples:
¥ The Dallas-based Institute for Creation Research is appealing a 2008 decision by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to deny its application to grant masters of science degrees in the state. A lawsuit is possible if the appeal fails.
¥ In December of 2007, professor Nathaniel Abraham filed a federal lawsuit against the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, saying he was fired soon after telling a superior he didn't accept evolution as scientific fact. Though a court dismissed the suit, an appeal is pending.
Still, not all Christians agree with the young-earth views that Ham espouses. One example is British professor Denis Alexander, whose book Creation or Evolution: Do We Have to Choose? released in the U.S. in January.
The director of the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion at St. Edmund's College in Cambridge, Alexander says creationists hold less sway in England. There, he says, many Christians accept evolution as an explanation of God's creative process.
Although Alexander believes God created the world, the professor argues that early church fathers believed Genesis was written in metaphorical language rather than literal. For example, he points out the word "day" is used in three different contexts in Genesis 1-3.
"I think Genesis 1 is saying that God has carried out creation in an orderly way, and a way that is always good in bringing order out of disorder," Alexander says.
Ham doesn't agree, insisting the Bible is the starting point for explaining the earth's origins. "As soon as you believe in an old earth, you didn't get it from the Bible," Ham says. "An old earth comes from man's interpretation of the evidence."


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The Bracelets
Each ribbon cable bracelet is salvaged from a: Guitar Hero, Guitar controller; or Rock Band, Guitar controller. This makes each one of the bracelets different and unique from each other. All text, patterns, or images on the ribbon cable are original to the cable and is not added to the cable. All ribbon cable is cleaned and tested to ensure there is no lead in the plastic coating and wires.
This bracelet is 8 inches long and .375 inches wide. The bracelet has a 1 inch chain to help adjust the size of the bracelet to fit your wrist.
Pink pattern on bracelet.
What is Ribbon Cable?
A ribbon cable (also known as multi-wire planar cable) is a cable with many conducting wires running parallel to each other on the same flat plane. As a result, the cable is wide and flat. Its name comes from its resemblance to a piece of ribbon. Ribbon cables are usually seen for internal peripherals in computers, such as hard drives, CD drives, and floppy drives. The ribbon-like shape interferes with computer cooling and also makes the cables awkward to handle, especially when there are a lot of them; as a result, round cables have almost entirely replaced ribbon cables on the inside of computers.


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Stress Management Course - deal with work related stress in Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Stress Management
With a diploma as a Stress Management Consultant (SMC), I consider myself to be a specialist in this area and can offer individual or group sessions to suit any potential client.
Stress affects most people at some point in their lives!
What is Stress?
Stress is the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demands placed on them. There is a clear distinction between pressure, which can create a 'buzz' and be a motivating factor, and stress which can occur when this pressure becomes excessive.
Did you know that in 2009 the cost to the UK economy due to stress was £3.8 billion! [That's just based on stress related sickness signed off with a doctor's note!] The true cost to the UK economy would probably be at least double this and that would be a conservative estimate!
There are many symptoms of stress in the workplace such as poor time keeping, vagueness, people who are suddenly no longer a team player but to name just a few.
There are many advantages to reducing stress in the workplace:.
A much happier workforce, when people are happy they enjoy work and are generally much more productive.
This in turn reduces sickness time or sickies [saving the company huge amounts of revenue and improving profitability through reduced absence costs] this in turn can lead to increased staff loyalty and lower recruitment costs!
Relaxing after a hard day's work! Does it really matter?
You had a productive yet challenging and sometimes stressful day at the office. Then the journey home only serves to heighten your stress levels once again as you battle through traffic to make it home. Now is the time to let go and put your mind at ease, recharge your battery, and refresh your energy levels so that you're ready to do it all again tomorrow!
You arrive home, the house is a mess, the kids are playing up, and your other half tells you it's your turn to cook dinner! (Yes apparently it's your turn and the thought of going out to battle the traffic again! Well let's not go there shall we!)
Maybe things at home are relatively peaceful and calm, but your mind is anything but as it just cannot switch off the day's events, which just keep mulling over in your mind. Then your mind switches to tomorrows challenges and the stress levels are up once again. At a time when you should be relaxing, taking it easy and recharging your batteries for the day ahead tomorrow, you suddenly find this time has been taken over by thoughts of work. It will be time to go back to work before you know it!
If either of the scenarios above is your evening after work, or weekend, then you need to put a little more effort in allowing yourself to relax. You need to take a well earned break after a long day/week at the office.
Learning to relax is a skill that can be mastered with practise! It allows you to be more focused, energetic and helps you keep things in perspective. In short the ability to relax and recharge away from work is as important as going to work itself!
Stress Awareness Day
I run a very successful one day Stress Awareness course in the Wakefield area, West Yorkshire, for companies that can help reduce stress in the workplace, therefore providing the company with a much happier, much more productive workforce, which should give you a reduced level of absence.
The course is designed for all levels of employees, but particularly middle and senior management. Did you know that 83% of managers suffer stress in the workplace every week! That is a staggering figure!
This course is designed to help people become more aware of stress and how it can affect you; it also gives people new tools that allow them to deal with stress in a much more relaxed and productive manner. It enables people to recognise the early onset of stress and what they can do about it. There are lots of positive ways to manage stress!
The course in brief covers:
- Definitions of stress
- How to recognise the early signs of stress
- How to tell the difference between good and bad stress [there is such a thing as good stress!]
- How to use relaxation techniques to deal with stressful situations
- How the emotional side of stress affects people
- How to maximise the use of your time
- A stress test for delegates to complete that identifies just how stressed they really are!
- Motivation
- Assertiveness
- A ten step guide for coping with stress
By the end of the course you will have:
A clearer understanding of stress and the importance of managing it, which will allow you to analyse the pressures and challenges in your life, which in turns helps you to plan effectively to eliminate them. You should also understand how to use a range of different techniques that allow the effective management of stress at work.
You should be able to identify any underlying cause of stress and deal with it effectively.
It's important to run the one day courses off site at a local hotel or other suitable venue, so that people are away from the work environment and can relax!
Start time is usually 9.30am and finish time around 4.30pm
Think of the benefits of the course, a more productive workforce, higher revenue, reduced absence, a happier workforce, greater staff loyalty, less recruitment costs and less litigation costs. In my opinion the course is invaluable and almost pays for itself!
It's a small price to pay for benefits above and remember as an employer, you have a responsibility Under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974. Employers have a general duty, so far as it is reasonably practical, to protect the health (including the mental health) of their employees health. This includes taking steps to ensure that employees do not suffer stress related illness as a result of their work.
Similarly, under the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 employees have a duty to assess the risks to health & Safety, apply the principles of prevention to health and safety, ensure employees are capable of carrying out their tasks and provide health & safety training and take extra steps to protect young people.
The management standards for work related stress http://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/standards
Common Issues
Below are some common causes of stress:
- Excessively high workloads
- Insufficient workloads
- A lack of control
- Lack of support
- Bullying or harassment
- A blame culture
- Weak or ineffective management
- Poor physical working environment
- Concerns about job security
The benefits of the course include:
- Understanding what Stress is
- Recognise the early signs of stress
- Tell the difference between good and bad stress
- Relaxation techniques to deal with stressful situations
- Understand how the emotional side of stress affects people
- How to maximise the use of your time
- Motivation
- Assertiveness
- A ten step guide for coping with stress


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Conference Info Menu
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Come Visit Everywhere at Burning Man
Our 2010 Presence at Burning Man For many of us in the BRAF community, Burning Man is more than an event. It's our organization's birthplace. It continues to be our source of inspiration — an example of a society where art serves an intrinsic connective function for the community. We eagerly look forward to our stay on the playa as…Keep reading >>


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MILWAUKEE, WI, Apr. 22, 2009 -- Underscoring the importance of ongoing water research that can affect Great Lakes cities, Veolia Water North America is funding a $1.5 million, 10-year research and development program, in partnership with the Great Lakes WATER Institute -- at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Marquette University, and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD).
Three research projects have been selected for immediate funding that will aim to:
• understand the existence of pharmaceuticals in watersheds and their potential elimination through wastewater treatment;
• determine potential improvements in wastewater treatment processes to generate methane gas as an alternative energy sources and to reduce green house gases; and,
• determine sources and quantities for phosphorous (which can cause algal blooms and odor issues in waterways and on beaches) entering the Milwaukee watershed and the path of flow into Lake Michigan.
"This research represents an exceptional way to advance wastewater treatment and positively impact not only Great Lakes communities but cities around the world," said Chibby Alloway, chief technology officer of Veolia Water North America. "As new residuals, such as pharmaceuticals, are detected in the earth's waters, it is critical that we understand their presence and pursue cutting-edge processes to remove them. The research body aims for important improvements in alternative energy and green house gas reduction, as well as water quality improvements in watersheds that will enhance the quality of life for many people. Even in the current global economy, R&D investments must continue to be made."
The first project, led by Dr. Rebecca Klaper of the Great Lakes WATER Institute at the University of Wisconsin -- Milwaukee, entails groundbreaking research that will measure and monitor pharmaceuticals, such as endocrine disruptors, in the Milwaukee watershed, the potential for removing them during the treatment process at MMSD facilities operated by Veolia Water, and the subsequent discharge of pharmaceutical compounds that remain untreated and are re-released into Lake Michigan.
The issue of pharmaceuticals in the environment and the potential for their reach into drinking water systems has increasingly become a public health concern. The results of this research can improve water quality by helping determine which compounds are most critical for monitoring and removal. MMSD will co-fund this research.
The second project, led by Dr. Dan Zitomer of Marquette University, will focus on process improvements in wastewater treatment that can reduce residuals (solids) and increase the availability of methane gas as an alternative energy source. MMSD treatment facilities currently utilize methane biogas as an energy source. Practical applications from this research could result in increased renewable energy equivalent to 23,000 dekatherms per year valued at approximately $138,000 annual energy cost savings.
In addition to the cost savings from capturing methane, there is also potential for reduction in the green house gas footprint for the treatment facilities.
The third project, conducted by Dr. Jim Waples of the Great Lakes WATER Institute at the University of Wisconsin -- Milwaukee, focuses on understanding how nutrients are transported from a watershed to a river and how climate and land use can affect this transfer. Nutrients, such as phosphorus, can stimulate nuisance algal blooms. This research can help assess the effectiveness of current models that regulate nutrient loading into the Milwaukee-area watershed and Lake Michigan. It can also assist MMSD in shaping local opinion on point and non-point nutrient discharge regulations.
"The ability of Veolia Water to support research at this level is a new and important element to our partnership," explained Kevin Shafer, MMSD executive director. "The Great Lakes, water quality and the people of our region are all beneficiaries of partnering with a company that has the capacity to advance water research in a way that will truly impact our community."
Veolia Water teamed up with these institutions to develop a selection process to fund research projects that have immediate or near-term operating applications and results. A committee comprised of Veolia Water, MMSD, Great Lakes WATER Institute, University of Wisconsin -- Milwaukee and Marquette University developed a matrix that scored research capabilities against local needs. Proposals were scored utilizing the matrix, with those showing promise for imminent commercial applications racking up more points.
Veolia Water North America began operations and maintenance of Milwaukee's Jones Island and South Shore treatment water reclamation facilities in March, 2008, under contract to Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. The two wastewater treatment plants have a combined processing capacity of 630 million gallons per day. The project is the largest wastewater public-private partnership in North America.
"Support of our clients' communities takes many forms," explained Laurent Auguste, president and CEO of Veolia Water Americas. "We are thinking beyond wastewater treatment and, globally, we are focusing most of our R&D on activities that preserve and protect our environment.
Endocrine disruptors are garnering global concern and so we are especially pleased to be co-funding this particular research with MMSD."
Veolia Water North America is the leading provider of comprehensive water and wastewater partnership services to municipal and industrial customers, providing services to more than 14 million people in approximately 600 communities. Veolia Water, the water division of Veolia Environnement, is the world leader in water and wastewater services.


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Criminal: An ugly mess
Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Oldman are squandered in thankless supporting roles, slaves to a preposterous script penned by Douglas Cook and David Weisberg that displays an unhealthy aversion to plausibility.
None of the two-dimensional characters address why the CIA seriously considers a sociopath to be the perfect test subject for revolutionary memory-swap surgery.
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Hide AdNor is there a hint of a motive for a cyber terrorist who sets the ramshackle plot in motion by hacking the US military and threatening to take charge of its missile launching capabilities.
Instead, we are repeatedly bludgeoned with scenes of graphic violence: heads and limbs slammed in vehicle doors, an innocent passerby set alight, and a customer at a coffee shop assaulted for speaking out of turn over his latte.
"Who punches somebody in a patisserie?" whimpers the victim.
The film opens shortly after CIA operative Bill Pope (Ryan Reynolds) has delivered notorious hacker Jan Stroop (Michael Pitt) aka The Dutchman to a London safe house.
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Hide AdThe agent collects a black bag of money - a ransom to dissuade Stroop from selling his flash drive of US defence codes to the highest bidder.
Before Pope can make the exchange, sadistic terrorist Hagbardaka Heimbahl (Jordi Molla) captures the American.
The CIA man refuses to relinquish Stroop's location and by the time CIA London bureau chief Quaker Wells (Oldman) arrives, Pope has been tortured to the brink of death.
If Heimbahl locates Stroop, the repercussions would be cataclysmic, so the CIA enlists maverick neurosurgeon Dr Franks (Lee Jones) to transplant Pope's memories into the head of Jericho Stewart (Costner), who suffers from frontal lobe syndrome.
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Hide AdUnfortunately, Jericho is a vicious death row inmate, with no moral compass, empathy or emotions.
"You hurt me, I hurt you worse," the prisoner growls.
Jericho refuses to do the CIA's bidding and escapes custody.
Fractured images of Pope's former life lead the jailbird to the dead agent's widow Jill (Gal Gadot) and daughter Emma (Lara Decaro), with Wells and fellow CIA agents Esteban Ruiz (Amaury Nolasco) and Marta Lynch (Alice Eve) in hot pursuit.
Criminal offers no compelling reason to care about Costner's brute as he embarks on a killing spree.
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Hide AdOnly Lee Jones' medic seems concerned by the barbarity, advising Oldman's hotheaded boss against brutalising Jericho.
"Your men have got to stop hitting him, especially in the head," deadpans the neurosurgeon.
Gadot, currently flexing her muscles as Wonder Woman in Batman V Superman, is treated as a bauble, to be held captive or tied invitingly to a bed.
Vromen's mindless, relentless film is an ugly mess.


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<<Previous Question | Question Index | Subject Index | Constitutional Index | Next Question>>
Q91. "I have a history class and the teacher will give us extra credit if we can go to class tonight with the answer to this question... Technically, the U.S. Constitution is an illegal document... Why?"
A. The commission of the Constitutional Convention was to propose amendments to the Articles of Confederation. Instead, the Framers decided that not amendment but replacement was the best course. Technically, the Articles of Confederation could not be amended without the consent of each and every state in the United States. The Constitution, however, calls for ratification by only nine of the thirteen states. If the Constitution was an amending document, it would indeed have been illegal.
But the Constitution may be better called a document of revolution — it overthrew the confederation with a federation. The revolution, however, was bloodless and with the consent, eventually, of all of the states. Rhode Island and North Carolina were hold-outs in ratification, and they did not actually become parts of the new United States until after the U.S. had been operating for a short time — they realized the futility of trying to go it alone.
So, I suppose in some very technical ways, the Constitution was illegal for a short time; however, since it was accepted by all 13 states that made up the United States under the Articles, I'm not sure you could argue that it is still so.


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Novotel Resort & Spa Biarritz Anglet
Hotels | Located at the heart of beautiful lush-green grounds with its own heated swimming pool, tennis court and children's play areas, the Novotel Resort & Spa Biarritz-Anglet, refurbished in 2016, can offer you a raft of top-quality facilities:
we'll leave you in our aestheticians' very capable hands - we have treatment rooms, a sauna and a gym.
Our 104 bedrooms include 4 suites and 6 executive rooms with their own minibar, safe and MP3/4 speakers...
Discover our Spanish-style cooking at the GourmetBar: tapas, pintxos and more, all prepared in front of you! There's a great selection of fresh, local produce along with French and Spanish wines. Our beautiful resort-style outdoor terrace is great for relaxing, but we also have 280 m² of meeting rooms suitable for all types of events: conferences, business meetings, product launches, business or large family meals, weddings etc. The Novotel Resort & Spa Biarritz Anglet - a great stay comes as standard!
> Double room: 95 / 219 €
> Single room: 95 / 219 €
> Breakfast: 16 €


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Native Instruments today introduced DROP SQUAD, a new MASCHINE Expansion that highlights the deep sound of dubstep and bass music culture. Bringing synthesis to MASCHINE and MASCHINE MIKRO for the first time, DROP SQUAD includes presets from NI's MASSIVE synthesizer which now comes as a free download when users register or upgrade their MASCHINE software.
The 35 kits and 120 patterns in DROP SQUAD contain a host of punchy drums, low-end wobbles, FX, stabs, sweeps and deep basses. An additional 10 special kits add tribal and mechanical one-shots along with many wobbles, drills and synthesized 'vowel' sounds that will be instantly recognizable to fans of dubstep.
Over 50 included MASSIVE presets add a completely new element to this expansion. These dynamic presets have been created by top producers to cover the full spectrum of wobbles, growls, leads, sub basses, chords and atmospheres found in dubstep and bass music – all intuitively controllable through MASCHINE's top row Macro knobs without having to open MASSIVE's user interface.
A compact version of DROP SQUAD is also available for iMASCHINE – the groove sketchpad for iPhone / iPod touch.
DROP SQUAD is available at the NI Online Shop for $59 / 49 €. The iMASCHINE version is available at the in-app store for $0.99 / 0,79 €. Additional information on DROP SQUAD is available at: www.native-instruments.com/dropsquad


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Skin Care: Poised for Growth
As the U.S. continues to emerge from the recent economic downturn, the beauty industry is carefully monitoring purchasing trends from American consumers—including the brightest spot in the industry: skin care. In a study released in June 2010, consulting firm Kline & Company found that sales of skin care products have grown, even when the U.S. personal care market is growing at a rate below the GDP. Skin care was the only beauty care segment that grew during the recession, averaging 4%.
As the skin care segment continues to grow, so does the interest in airless dispensing systems. In 2010, MWV led a study surrounding consumer preferences for and frustrations with airless dispensing systems among facial moisturizers and anti-aging skin care. MWV's research identified opportunities for new brands to reach consumers, but in order to have the best opportunity for purchase, brand owners need to understand the importance of packaging and how it has the power to move consumers' purchasing decisions.
Masstige Brands Seizing Opportunities to Reach New Customers
The economy significantly impacted American consumers' approach to shopping. Mintel research (2010) shows that 33% of consumers prioritized necessities above all other purchases. Consumer frugality has become the new normal [features by Miriam Quart: Reviving Personal Care Brands and Aspirational Consumers Turn Nostalgic, as well as other features, notably by Euromonitor International also explore this topic]. Brands need to find new ways to attract and retain their consumers by offering higher-quality, lower-priced options at the point of sale.
Skin care products are no exception. Consumers who once focused their spending on prestige products began to carefully monitor their budgets and gravitate toward more affordable brands found at drug and grocery stores. Some masstige brands seized the opportunity to connect with these consumers by scaling up the quality of their products. To attract customers accustomed to the luxurious look and feel of prestige products, masstige brands elevated their packaging by adding decorative effects or using airless dispensers for a sleeker appearance on the shelf and more positive experience at home.
With the industry-wide move toward more elaborate packaging and suppliers offering more decoration options on more types of packaging, masstige products are better able to attract former prestige consumers.
Brand Extensions Increasing; Packaging Helps Define "New" Brands
Longtime trusted brands have been successful in expanding their consumer base by adding new product lines for targeted audiences. For instance, when Olay launched a trial version of its Pro X anti-aging line, the product sold out in just 17 minutes online. By developing a range of products at different price points and targeting different demographics, brands are able to simultaneously retain current consumers, grow their business and expand their appeal to a wider audience. As consumers press for more affordable options to meet their personal care needs, brands are increasing their suite of offerings to meet these new demands. Packaging is a key element of this process; a brand's appearance must match the look and feel of the new brand while also synergizing with existing branding, as the product evolves to reach a niche set of consumers.
Consumers Talk in Detail About Beauty Brands and the Packaging Online
With the rise in online consumer-generated content, Americans have taken to the Internet to talk about the brands they love. More and more Americans are using the Internet to research products. Consumers are neither shy about asking their online communities about a brand or refrain from offering advice when asked. Facebook, Twitter and blogs are just a few of the places consumers can go to talk about a product before they decide where to spend their money. Packaging is not exempt from these conversations, and those involved with packaging creation and decisions have a real opportunity to educate consumers about the benefits of, for example, airless packaging.
While not all online chatter is positive, negative conversations can serve as an effective tool to help address issues raised in the online space, thereby leading to the creation of products that better address consumer needs and frustrations.
In fact, MWV's research showed that most American consumers do not recognize an airless dispensing system and do not understand the role of an airless package in ensuring product integrity. With a more robust education, consumers can better discern an airless product from other types of pumps and the benefits of buying airless, including the freshness factor and the exactness of dispensing.
Consumers Want to Get Their Money's Worth; Every Last Drop Counts
Consumers, as noted, are more carefully scrutinizing how they spend their money, and they want to get the most when purchasing their favorite skin care solutions. Using airless packaging again as an example, this option provides greater package integrity, minimizing the possibility that the consumer opens the package and contaminates the product. By avoiding exposure to air, airless packaging helps to ensure that the product remains fresh and sanitary—making every last drop count for money-conscience consumers.
It is important to remember, however, even though any given type of packaging offers benefits, not every option in packaging is the answer for every product. Packaging manufacturers and brand owners need to continue to choose packaging with a critical eye and select what best fits their products. It is crucial for brand owners to have a packaging partner who understands the intricacies of packaging and can advise on the benefits of specific packaging designs for each brand product.
As brand owners look to the future of their products, it is critical to consider a greater emphasis on educating consumers about the benefits of any given packaging option, including dispensing systems.
The global landscape for the beauty industry is constantly evolving, and packaging will remain an important aspect of a brand's image and impact on the retail performance. Brand owners will continue to benefit from listening to consumer feedback and following industry trends in order to better serve their consumers in the future.
In Learning from France's Savvy Consumer, Eva Martin Fernandez, MWV's marketing manager in Europe for personal care products, discusses how consumer insights are affecting beauty and personal care packaging in France.
Earl Trout is director of marketing for MWV's Beauty & Personal Care. MWV is a supplier of fragrance, personal care and cosmetic dispensing solutions with sprayers and pumps. MWV combines its own unique approach of product design through consumer insights and client partnership to deliver customized solutions to well-known brands around the world. www.mwv.com